HBO’s hit series The White Lotus is no stranger to controversy, with its explicit content often sparking debates worldwide. However, in India, an unexpected scene was censored from the show’s latest season on JioHotstar—not the much-discussed incest plotline, but a scene involving profanity directed at a religious figure.
Surprising Censorship Choice
The opening scene of The White Lotus Season 3, featuring Nicholas Duvernay’s character cursing at a Buddha statue, was removed from the Indian version of the show. The expletive-laden dialogue was meant to highlight the character’s cultural ignorance during a vacation in Thailand.
In the original scene, Duvernay’s character is seen angrily saying:
“What the f**k! I said, don’t let anything happen to my mother, motherf—er.”
However, in the JioHotstar version, the scene has been edited so that the character appears to be simply praying, with the offensive language removed entirely. Interestingly, while this scene was deemed inappropriate, a scandalous threesome sequence was left untouched.
Censorship Without HBO’s Permission?
According to IndieWire, the censorship was carried out without any official mandate from HBO or the Indian government. This has raised questions about self-regulation by streaming platforms in India, especially when it comes to content featuring religious themes.
About The White Lotus Season 3
The White Lotus is a satirical comedy-drama series created, written, and directed by Mike White. The third season, which premiered on HBO on February 16, 2025, is set in Thailand and follows the lives of wealthy guests and resort staff navigating secrets, scandals, and power dynamics.
The show stars Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Jon Gries, Sarah Catherine Hook, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, and Aimee Lou Wood, among others.
The Debate Over Censorship in India
This instance of selective censorship highlights the complex and often unpredictable nature of content regulation in India. While sexually explicit material is frequently allowed, religious sensitivities often lead to edits. The removal of the Buddha statue scene, despite the show’s other controversial elements remaining intact, has sparked conversations about what is deemed offensive and why.
Despite the censorship, The White Lotus Season 3 remains available to stream on JioHotstar in India. Whether this unexpected edit will impact the show’s reception among Indian audiences remains to be seen.
Sources By Agencies
